Electrical connector with radially spaced contacts



B. SILVER Oct. 5, 1965 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH RADIALLY SPACED CONTACTS Filed Dec. 20, 1961 FIG-.2

INVENTOR.

BERNARD SILVER ATTORNEY United States Patent ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH RADIALLY SPACED CONTACTS Bernard Silver, North Hills, Pa., assignor to Electro-Nite Engineering Co., Philadelphia, 1921., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Dec. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 160,858 Claims. (Cl. 339-61) This invention relates to a rotary electrical connector, and more particularly, to a connector adapted to be dis posed between two rotatable members and provide an electrical coupling between said members in all rotative positions of said members.

There is a great need in the electrical industry for a simple, in expensive electrical connector. A connector of this type will have a wide variety of uses in many types of electrical devices such as meters, indicators, lamps, components of electrical transmission systems, etc. In accordance with the present invention, a electrical connector is disposed between two members which may rotate with respect to each other about a common axis and provide an electrical coupling in all rotative positions of said members. In addition, the electrical connector of the present invention permits a small amount of angular movement of said members with respect to the common axis. The connector of the present invention is preferably made from a lightweight deformable plastic material such as polyethylene. Thus, the dielectric material of the electrical connector will facilitate the angular movement of the members and at the same time be made from an inexpensive material capable of being mass produced.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector which provides an electrical coupling between two members which may have rotary movement with respect to a common axis of rotation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a electrical connector which is capable of providing an electrical coupling between two members while at the same time permitting a slight amount of angular movement of said members with respect to said common axis.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a electrical connector which maintains its polarity regardless of the relative angular axial position of the members being connected.

It is still another object of the present invention to pro vide :1 electrical connector which has a self-cleaning action so that electrical conductive elements thereon may be provided with a thin protective coating which will be worn oil by relative motion between said connector and a member coupled thereto.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings a form which is preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective exploded view of a rotary electrical connection in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a rotary electrical connection in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the lines 33 in FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numer- 3,210,718 Patented Oct. 5, 1965 als indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a electrical connection designated generally as 10.

The electrical connector 10 is facilitated by the electrical connector element 11 which comprises a base 12 having a depending annular wall 14. The base 12 as illustrated, is circular in plan view and the wall 14 is spaced radially inwardly from the outer peripheral surfaces of the base 12. If desired, the outer peripheral surface of the wall 14 may be equal to or greater than the outer peripheral surface of the base 12.

A hollow tubular wall 16 is integral with and upright with respect to the base 12. The longitudinal axis of the wall 16 coincides with the longitudinal axis of the wall 14. The wall 16 is in line with a hole extending through the base 12.

The ends of a wall 22 are interconnected with the wall 16 by means of walls 18 and 20. The walls 18 and 20 are tangent to the outer peripheral surface of the wall 16. The wall 22 is provided with an arcuate outer peripheral surface which is a portion of a circle having a center coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the wall 16. The upper edge of the wall 22 is provided with a notch 23 for a purpose to be made clear hereinafter. A separator wall 24 is disposed between the walls 13 and 20 thereby forming a pair of triangular-shaped pockets 26 and 28. If desired, the separator wall 24 may extend between the walls 18 and 20 in a plane substantially perpendicular to the walls 18 and 20. The particular angular disposition of the separator wall 24 is not critical so long as it provides two pockets between the wall 16 and the Wall 22. Alternatively, the walls 18, 20 and 24 could be eliminated. In such event, the ends of the wall 22 would be interconnected together by a wall so as to form a closed loop.

An edge of the wall 16 is provided with a notch 30 as shown more clearly in FIGURES 1 and 2. The notch 30 is in a portion of the wall 16 adjacent to the pocket 28. The walls 16 and 22 are illustrated as being of the same height from the base 12. As a practical matter, the walls 16 and 22 need not be of the same height, but may be of substantially the same height and yet perform their intended function.

A first conductive element such as wire: 32 and a second conductive element such as Wire 34 are supported by a first tubular member 36. As illustrated, the wires 32 and 34 extend through the member 36 which is hollow and may be made from fiberboard. Any one of a wide variety of means, not shown, may be utilized to assure that the wires 32 and 34 will be isolated with respect to each other within the member 36. For example, a partition may be provided within the member 36 with the wires 32 and 34 being on opposite sides thereof.

The wire 32 terminates in a hook portion 38. The wire 34 terminates in a hook portion 40. The wire 32 is adapted to extend along the outer periphery of the walls 14 and 22 with the hook portion 38 being disposed within the pocket 26. The notch 23 facilitates the reception of the arcuate portion of the wire 32 as shown more clearly in FIGURE 2. The wire 34 extends up through the wall 16. The hook 40 is adapted to be received within the pocket 28. The notch 30 facilitates the reception of the arcuate portion of the wire 34.

A second tubular member 42 is provided with a common longitudinal axis with respect to the member 36. The member 42 is provided with a first contact in the form of a conductive lining 44. The member 44 also electrical connector.

includes a second contact in the form of a pin 46. The first and second contacts are made of electrically conductive material. The pin 46 is provided with a longitudinal axis which coincides with the longitudinal axis of the members 36 and 42. The pin 46 is adapted to be received within the tubular wall 16 with the wire 34 in abutting engagement therebetween.

To facilitate proper entry of the pin 46 into the tubular wall 16, the pin 46 is provided with a tapered point. To facilitate entry of the base 12 into the first contact 44, the lowermost edge of the contact 44 is tapered radially outwardly. The second tubular member 42 is preferably made from a non-conductive material such as Bakelite. At all times, the first and second contacts 44 and 46 are spaced from one another.

The member 42 may be of indefinite length. As illustrated, the member 42 is a short member having an end wall 48. A terminal 50 extends through the wall 48 and is in electrical contact with the first contact 44.

.A second terminal 52 extends through the end wall 48 and is in electrical contact with the pin 46.

in abutting contact with the wire 32. Rotation of the member 42 with respect to the base 12 readily removes the protective coating on the wires 32'and 34. A polarized coupling is provided since the pin 46 will be in electrical contact with the wire 34 and the lining 44 will be in electrical contact with the wire 32 in all rotative positions thereof about a common axis.

The separator wall 24 maintains the hook portions 38 and 40 isolated from one another. The provision of hook portions assures that a wire is present within the rotary If the walls 18, 20 and 24 were eliminated and the free ends of the wall 22 were connected together in a closed loop, the hook portion 40 would be on the outer peripheral surface of the wall 16 and the hook portion 38 would be within the closed loop. Hence, the hook portions 38 and 40 would be electrically isolated with respect to each other in this alternative embodiment.

The element 11 of electrical connector is an integral one piece unit which is preferably made from a dieelectric flexible material such as polyethylene. Polyethylene is readily available, inexpensive, and is sufliciently flexible so as to enable'the member 36 to be angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the member 42. The wall 14 provides a means for mounting the electrical connector on the member 36. If desired, the wall 14 may be of sufiicient diameter to telescope around the member 36. When the electrical connector 10 is inserted intothe lining '44, base 12 and wire 32 on the outer peripheral surface of base 12 and wall 22 frictionally engage the lining 44. The frictional engagement provides a fit which retains the parts in assembled relation and permits relative rotative movement. Since the wall 22 will be made from a readily deformable material, the wall 22 will be slightly deformed as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

Hereinafter, member 42 may be referred to as a first member, element 11 may be'referre'dto as a second member, wire 32'may be referred to as a first electrically conductive wire-element, wire 34 may be referred to as a second electrically conductive wire element, base 12 may "be referred to as a body portion, wall 16 may be referred to as a first wall or tubular portion, wall 20 may b referred to as a second wall having an arcuate peripheral outer surface, and wall 14 may be referred to as a third wall.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus comprising first and second engaged members having a common longitudinal axis and being separable by application of a force in a direction along said axis, first and second spaced electrical contacts on said first member, first and second electrically conductive wire elements associated with said second member, means for providing an electrical coupling between said first contact and said first wire element on the one hand and between said second contact and said second wire element on the second hand in all rotatable positions of said second memher with respect to said first member, said coupling means including a body portion on said second member, said body portion having an arcuate first wall adjacent said axis and a second wall having an arcuate peripheral surface spaced radially outwardly from said first wall, said walls being integral with said body portion and made from a deformable electrically non-conductive material, said second wire element extending through said body portion and between said first wall and said second contact, said second contact and said second wire element being in abutting engagement, said first wall having an axis of curvature coaxial with respect to said axis, said first and second walls extending in a generally axial direction from said body portion toward said first member, said first contact being annular, said first wire element being partially disposed between said arcuate peripheral surface on said second wall and said first contact, and said first wire element being in abutting engagement with an inner surface on said first contact.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a third wall having an axis of curvature coaxial with said above-mentioned axis, said third wall being integral with said body portion and depending therefrom on the opposite side of the body portion from said first and second walls.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second walls are substantially equal in height, and means including the spaced relationship between said first and second walls for retaining terminal end portions of said first and second wire elements in spaced apart relationship.

4. An electrical connector comprising first and second members frictionally engaged and being separable by application of a force in a direction along a common longitudinal axis, first and second radially spaced electrical contact on said first member, said first contact being annular and surrounding said second contact, first and second electrically conductive wire elements on said second member, said second member being constructed and arranged to provide an electrical coupling between said first contact and said first electrically conductive wire element on the one hand and between said second Contact and said second electrically conductive wire element on the other hand in all rotary positions of said members, said second member including a body portion having an upstanding hollow tubular wall of electrically non-conductive material in line with a hole in said body portion, a second upstanding Wall of electrically non-conductive material having an arcuate outer peripheral surface, said walls being integral with said body portion and extending toward said first member, said body portion and walls being made from a flexible plastic material, said second electrically conductive wire element extending through the .hole in said body portion and through said hollow tubular portion and in engagement with said second electrical contact, said first electrically conductive wire element having a portion extending along said arcuate peripheral surface on said second wall and in engagement with said first contact, and said second wall being adjacent the outer periphery of said body portion so that said first electrically conductive wire element may engage said first contact.

5. A connector in accordance with claim 4 wherein said electrically conductive wire elements have terminal end portions juxtaposed to and extending along the rements.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 2,881,405 4/59 Yarbrough 33917 2,904,767 9/59 Vacha 339-5 X 2,912,666 11/59 Hurvitz 339-61 3,076,163 1/63 Nodge et a1. 339-4 OTHER REFERENCES Elsas 339--8 Gilbertson 3398 Chellis, L. N. Electro-Technology, December 1961, Ogorzaly et a1. page 78.

Ver ilio et a1. 339-1982 schfber 339 2 10 JOSEPH D. SEERS, Prlmary Examiner.

Weitzel 174113 ALFRED S. TRASK, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND ENGAGED MEMBERS HAVING A COMMON LONGITUDINAL AXIS AND BEING SEPARABLE BY APPLICATION OF A FORCE IN A DIRECTION ALONG SAID AXIS, FIRST AND SECOND SPACED ELECTRICAL CONTACTS ON SAID FIRST MEMBER, FIRST AND SECOND ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE WIRE ELEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SECOND MEMBER, MEANS FOR PROVIDING AN ELECTRICAL COUPLING BETWEEN SAID FIRST CONTACT AND SAID FIRST WIRE ELEMENT ON THE ONE HAND AND BETWEEN SAID SECOND CONTACT AND SAID SECOND WIRE ELEMENT ON THE SECOND HAND IN ALL ROTATABLE POSITIONS OF SAID SECOND MEMBER WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIRST MEMBER, SAID COUPLING MEANS INCLUDING A BODY PORTION ON SAID SECOND MEMBER, SAID BODY PORTION HAVING AN ARCUATE FIRST WALL ADJACENT SAID AXIS AND A SECOND WALL HAVING AN ARCUATE PERIPHERAL SURFACE SPACED RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID FIRST WALL, SAID WALLS BEING INTEGRAL WITH SAID BODY PORTION AND MADE FROM A DEFORMABLE ELECTRICALLY NON-CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL, SAID SECOND WIRE ELEMENT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BODY PORTION AND BETWEEN SAID FIRST WALL AND SAID SECOND BODY PORTION SECOND CONTACT AND SAID SECOND WIRE ELEMENT BEING IN ABUTTING ENGAGEMENT, SAID FIRST WALL HAVING AN AXIS OF CURVATURE COAXIAL WITH RESPECT TO SAID AXIS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND WALLS EXTENDING IN A GENERALLY AXIAL DIRECTION FROM SAID BODY PORTION TOWARD SAID FIRST MEMBER, SAID FIRST CONTACT BEING ANNULAR, SAID FIRST WIRE ELEMENT BEING PARTIALLY DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID ARCUATE PERIPHERAL SURFACE ON SAID SECOND WALL AND SAID FIRST CONTACT, AND SAID FIRST WIRE ELEMENT BEING IN ABUTTING ENGAGEMENT WITH AN INNER SURFACE ON SAID FIRST CONTACT. 